I've started doing research for an 07 cruise in the Hawaiian islands. It looks like my only options if I wish to depart from an actual Hawaiian island, then I am 'stuck' with the dubious NCL Aloha, America. Am I missing any lines (I know HAL/Princess/Celebrity) cruise there from the main land, but our travelling companions don't want 4 back to back sea days.

I've started doing research for an 07 cruise in the Hawaiian islands. It looks like my only options if I wish to depart from an actual Hawaiian island, then I am 'stuck' with the dubious NCL Aloha, America. Am I missing any lines (I know HAL/Princess/Celebrity) cruise there from the main land, but our travelling companions don't want 4 back to back sea days.

On the 10 & 11 day cruises, sea days are 2 to Fanning Island and 2 back from Fanning Island. There were alot of activities scheduled all over the ship for the sea days - and they were the only sea days. We took the Hula lessons and had a blast!

Ahhh interesting ... that might be more palatable to our travelling companions. It sounds like one or both of you have been on the Wind ... any general opinions? All I seem to hear is negative about the other two.

We were on the Wind a year and a half ago. I,too, was worried after reading alot of negative reviews. Don't worry. The ship is older, and since it was lengthened, it's tricky to get to the Trattoria, the third dining room. We did dinner most nights in the Trattoria restaurant, as the two main dining rooms were usually very busy with 30 - 45 minute waits. I don't believe we waited longer than 10 minutes to be seated when dining in the Trattoria - the food and the service were excellant. To access one either goes through the show lounge or goes up to deck 11 by the pool, and enters from outside - this is a direct result of the lengthening. Do be aware that there is no casino when doing a Hawaiian cruise. I actually heard someone complaining about the lack of a casino ("I wouldn't have come if I knew there wasn't a casino" - someone didn't do their homework on Hawaiian cruises). The casino area was being used for yoga classes and the art auction. I decided not to worry, and to pretend I was a new cruiser - one who is overwhelmed by everything. Worked for me. I talked to many first-timers who were thrilled with the ship and the whole experience. We actually enjoyed our four sea days - the first 4 days were hectic, with port stops each day, so we got to relax, and enjoy the pool (the aft pool is best if you want to avoid the crowds and kids). I would recommend the Wind 10 or 11 day cruise over the 7 day cruises out of Honolulu, mainly because of the extra sea days.

The service issues on the "Prides of" - American crewed ships could be an issue. The Wind is foreign staffed, with corresponding service that goes with it. We heard a lot about the service problems on the new ships that do the 7 day round-the-islands cruises.

4 or more sea days sounds like heaven to me. I would take Princess or Celebrity from California over NCL any day. You could also cruise from Ensenada Mexico on Carnival. I've heard too many horror stories to book NCL on such an expensive cruise as Hawaii. I would print a bunch of review on all the ships and show them to your cruise partners to consider carefully. Or maybe spend some days before and after the cruise in Hawaii that way if the cruise is a disappointment it's not a total loss.